Metallic packing.



No. 862,248. PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. R. J. HARPER.

METALLIC PACKING.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 12, 1906.

INVENTOR.

n rnnir OFFICE.

ROBERT J HARPER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METALLIC raoxme.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 12,1906. SerialNo. 805,462. I

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ROBERT J. HARPER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Packing, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of producing a lubricating packingcomposed preferably of a suitable metal, a liquid or semi-liquidlubricant such as a grease, and non-conducting and dry lubricatingsubstances such as mica and graphite.

My invention is not confined in its-essentials to any particularcombination of metals or materials, but for the purpose of thisapplication for patent, I shall describe it as utilizing certain wellknown lubricating substances, for the purpose of bringing out clearlysome of the advantages of my method and the utility of the productresulting therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a simple form ofappliance for carrying out my method in the following views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the appliance, and Fig. 2 is across-section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 3 represents a tank adapted to hold liquids inwhich water 4, and a lubricating oil 5, are placed, the latterstratifying in the usual manner and forming a surface coating,preferably half an inch thick Extending above a portion of the tank,atan angle of degrees, is a frame 6, in the opposite inclined sides ofwhich are pins 7 which are set closely together. A wire is laced backand forth on said frame and around said pins so as to form an inclinedscreen 8, the strands of which are in horizontal'but slightlj divergentplanes.

With an appliance made substantially as shown and described, .my packingis produced in the following manner:Molten metal, preferably Babbittmetal and lead, 'of suitable proportions, is poured from a ladle at aheight of from five to six feet upon said screen-and upon coming incontact with the wires of the latter is cut into thin light flakes ofirregular shape and size, which fall by gravity, first into the oil andpassing through the oil, into the water in the tank. The hot metal inits contact with the oil, absorbs or takes up thereto, and then mix andknead them thoroughly I more or less of the latter, which adheres to theflakeseven after they have become cooled by immersion in the water bath,thus giving them considerable lubrieating qualities without furthertreatment. I prefer I however, to dry the metal flakes of the wateradhering with mica, graphite and Albany grease or the like,

-inaking a homogeneous mass of same, the proportions of said ingredientsdepending somewhat on the quality of packing desired and the particularuse to be made of'same. If a moist lubricant is required, more greasewill be used. If great non-conductivity and a dry lubricant is desired,more mica or graphite or both will .be employed. When the flak'es havebeen mixed with the substances named or any of them, they are pressedinto cylindrical or semi-cylindrical molds of convenient size and thenwrapped with tin-foil, in which condition they are ready forapplication. The metal after passing through the screen, oil and water,takes the form of various sizes of irregular shaped thin and semiporousflakes, without lumps or strings, and in such condition is peculiarlyadapted to take up and hold the lubricants combined therewith, the micaand graphite enteringthe voids in the flakes and the grease adhering tothe surfaces. As the flakes are of a texture similar to that of thintin-foil they are readily molded into any desired form.

I do not wish it to be understood from the aforegoing that the strata ofoil on the water, is essential to produce the flaky condition of metalwhich is so desirable nor do I wish to be limited to the exact materialsreferred to nor to the form of screen employed, as these may all bevaried within the scope of my invention.

I therefore claim ing oil, applying a lubricant, and pressing theproduct into suitable shape.

-3. A method-{of producing packing, consisting in converting moltenmetal into thin flakes by passing same through a suitable screen,immersing the particles in a bath ofoil. and water, and mixing theproduct with dry lubricants.

4. A method of producing a packing, consisting in passing molten metalthrough a" screen, then subjecting it to an oil and thereto. v

5. A method of producing a packing, consisting in passing molten metalthrough a screen, then subjecting it to an oil and water bath, and thenmixing a dry lubricant therewith.

In testimony whereof I afl'lx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ROBERT J. HARPER. Witnesses:

0. K. Tsneo,

E. E. KLUPMEYER.

water bath, and then'applying dry lubricants-

